AVID Jazz presents four classic Harry James albums plus, including original liner notes on of a finely re-mastered and low priced double CD.
“Harry James and His New Swingin’ Band”; “Harry James Today”; “Harry James Plays Neil Hefti”; “The Spectacular Sound of Harry James” plus side A of “Requests on the Road”.
Here’s a quote from our first selection “Harry James and His New Swingin’ Band”…....”It’s Harry James - and His New Swingin’ Band – an instrumental aggregation of solid, stunning virtuosity and a sound all its own. This is one of the greatest bands the memorable Mr James has ever lead - a band with all the flawless perfection one has always associated with the James name, yet a band that has a fabulously new atmosphere and spirit to it”. Phew!..... need we say more!!?? “Harry James Today” is somewhat of a tribute to its arranger Ernie Wilkins who had travelled on the road with the band in order to obtain “the dancers and listeners reactions” so that “when we returned to Hollywood we knew what to record and we were ready”. “Harry James Plays Neil Hefti” does exactly what it says on the label! Ten tracks from twenty three themes written by Mr Hefti with the great man writing in the original liner notes…”Everybody knowing that a great disc had been made……In fact Harry James played Neil Hefti, and everybody won”. A new set of ideas was called for on a next selection “The Spectacular sound of Harry James”, drawn from the songs written and arranged by old comrade Ernie Wilkins, Charlie Albertine and Harry James himself .
All four albums plus have been digitally re-mastered.
CD1
1-11: ‘Harry James And His New Swingin’ Band’
1. Shiny Stockings
2. How Deep Is The Ocean?
3. Slats
4. Blues Like
5. Cotton Tail
6. Too Close For Comfort
7. Kingsize Blues
8. M-Squad Theme
9. Deep Purple
10. Walkin’
11. Get Off The Stand
12-21: ‘Harry James Today’
12. Undecided
13. Satin Doll
14. Eyes
15. End Of Town Blues
16. King Porter Stomp
17. Ensemble
18. Jersey Bounce
19. Rockin’ In Rhythm
20. Take The “A” Train
21. Lester Leaps In
CD2
1-10: ‘Harry James Plays Neal Hefti’
1. Tweet Tweet
2. Chiarina
3. Harry, Not Jesse
4. The Creeper
5. Mister Johnson
6. Hot Pink
7. Sunday Morning
8. Koo Koo
9. Rainbow Kiss
10. Fontainebleau
11-20: ‘The Spectacular Sound Of Harry James’
11. Man With The Blues
12. What A Woman Feels
13. Swingin’ Together
14. New Life
15. There’s A Crowd
16. The Jazz Connoisseur
17. Harry’s Delight
18. Sweets’ Tooth
19. Lover Man (Oh, Where Can You Be?)
20. Connectin’ The Bones
21. Ciribiribin from Requests On The Road
22. Sleepy Lagoon from Requests On The Road
23. Strictly Instrumental from Requests On The Road
24. If I’m Lucky from Requests On The Road
25. Moanin’ Low from Requests On The Road
26. Ultra from Requests On The Road
